RAIPUR: On Friday, the Chhattisgarh cabinet approved a series of transformative proposals, highlighted by the establishment of the State Capital Region Authority (SCRA), modeled after Delhi’s NCR. This authority aims to manage rapid urbanization across Raipur, Durg-Bhilai, and Nava Raipur Atal Nagar through systematic and sustainable development.
Chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at the Secretariat in Nava Raipur, the cabinet recognized projections indicating the region could accommodate nearly five million residents by 2031, emphasizing the critical need for efficient land utilization and environmental safeguards.
A government statement revealed that the SCRA will prioritize urban planning, infrastructure investment, inter-agency coordination, and the management of uncontrolled urban expansion, positioning itself as a catalyst for smart and balanced urbanization in Chhattisgarh.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai remarked that the cabinet’s decisions represent a progressive vision for Chhattisgarh, merging urban modernization with inclusive growth. Initiatives focus on capital region development, tribal empowerment, youth innovation, and public service reform, outlining a comprehensive blueprint for an equitable and progressive future.
Among other important decisions, the cabinet authorized the creation of 30 ex-cadre positions to elevate State Police Service officers from the 2005 to 2009 batches to a senior pay scale, aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency within the police force.
The cabinet also approved a non-profit joint venture between the Chhattisgarh Government and PanIIT Alumni Reach for India Foundation. This initiative will emphasize skill development, vocational training, and rural entrepreneurship targeting tribal youth, women, and transgender individuals. By utilizing unspent funds from Tribal and Scheduled Caste Sub-Plans, training centers will be established in repurposed government buildings identified by district authorities.
On the transportation front, amendments to the Chhattisgarh Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1991, and Motor Vehicle Rules, 1994, were endorsed, allowing vehicle owners to transfer unique registration numbers to new or relocated vehicles for a fee, exempting government vehicles from these charges. This is part of a broader strategy to minimize road accidents and vehicular pollution by phasing out older vehicles.
To enhance the quality of private higher education, the cabinet approved the Chhattisgarh Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2025, while also advancing the state’s innovation ecosystem with a new Student Startup and Innovation Policy. This policy targets 50,000 students from 100 technical institutes, aims to support 500 prototypes, file 500 intellectual property rights, and incubate 150 startups, particularly in tribal and priority sectors such as agriculture, clean energy, health, and manufacturing.
In line with Union financial regulations, the cabinet passed the Chhattisgarh GST (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aiming to streamline inter-state transactions and strengthen the input service distribution system.
Land governance will also see reforms following the approval of the Chhattisgarh Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025. This revised code will facilitate quicker land partitioning, prevent illegal plotting, enable digital mapping (geo-referencing), and simplify inheritance-related name transfers. These adjustments are anticipated to minimize legal disputes and ease the implementation of industrial, housing, and urban development policies.
Additionally, the cabinet endorsed amendments to the Kushabhau Thakre University of Journalism and Mass Communication Act, 2004, aimed at modernizing the structure and academic delivery of the institution to meet contemporary media education demands.
